Fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome

Google Chrome remains the preferred choice for many Internet users for browsing the web. It is fast and secure but sometimes is known to cause problems. For example, when you try to connect to a website you may receive an error message – This site can’t provide a secure connection and displays the following error code ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR. On most occasions, this error is due to a problem with the server, or it may be requiring a client authentication certificate that might not be available. In addition, the same error could be caused by other several reasons. Nevertheless, here are few solutions that you can try to fix the nagging issue.

ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR

To enable users to browse safely on Chrome, Chrome requires websites use trustworthy certificates. A secure website must have trustworthy SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates. In other words, if the website doesn’t have a trustworthy SSL certification on Chrome, you may face this error.

See the URL of the website. If the connection is secure, the address should begin with https (note the s at the end). Alternatively, you can check the security status on the address bar of Chrome. How? To the left of the website address, check the security status. If ‘Secure’ with a lock icon appears on your computer screen, it means the website is secure. Besides ‘Secure’, if you notice ‘Info or not secure’ or ‘Not secure or dangerous’ you should abandon the website immediately.

If you are sure that the website is genuine, proceed to troubleshoot, as follows:

1] Disable Chrome QUIC Protocol

Disabling of QUIC Protocol method in Chrome is one of the tried and tested method to fix SSL error. So if you want to disable QUIC protocol on Google Chrome browser, copy the following address and paste it into the address bar

“chrome://flags/#enable-quic” and hit Enter.

Next, select “Disabled” in the drop-down list and then restart your Google Chrome browser. Hereafter, you should stop seeing SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in Google Chrome.

2] Configure Correct Date and Time Settings

Sometimes, a change in date and time settings too can cause this conflict. So, it better to configure this setting appropriately

First, type Date and Time settings in the search box and choose this setting. Next, click on “change Date & Time” to change it.

Click on “Time Zone” to change the same.

When done, Press OK.

3] Disable your Internet Browser Extensions

When you face ssl connection error, try launching Google Chrome in Incognito mode and load the same web page with ssl connection error in incognito mode. If you are able to access the webpage, you can be sure that one of your extensions is giving this error. Try to find out the culprit extension and then disable it or remove the extension. To do so, open Google Chrome browser, click on the Menu icon visible at the top right and select ‘More Tools‘ option.

Next, click on the Extensions options there and uncheck the Enabled option marked against the extension you want to disable.

Then, click on Remove to delete it completely.

4] Clear your SSL state

Sometimes the SSL state can unknowingly block the SSL connection. Proceed with these steps to clear your SSL state:

Open Control Panel and click Network and Internet applet in the Category section.

Then, select Network and Sharing Center and choose Internet Options.

Finally, click Clear SSL state in the Content tab and press OK button.

5] Change Your Internet Security And Privacy Level

If you have set the “High” level as your security and privacy level, it might block some unknown connections, including SSL connections. That may result in Err_SSL_Protocol_Error error flashing on your computer screen.

By changing these settings to be “Medium” or “Low”, you can fix this issue and your SSL connections will not be blocked anymore. In order to change your internet security and privacy level, open Control Panel and choose Internet Options.

Next, select the “Security” tab and set “Medium” level.

Do the same with the “Privacy” tab. After changing these settings, try to reload your Google Chrome browser again to confirm if the issue is resolved or still persists.

The author Hemant Saxena is a post-graduate in bio-technology and has an immense interest in following Windows, Office and other technology developments. Quiet by nature, he is an avid Lacrosse player. Creating a System Restore Point first before installing a new software, and being careful about any third-party offers while installing freeware is recommended.